real. brave. funny.

just like you.

The Storytellers

JAMES TILTON

​

I'm a high school teacher and author who has had my work featured in Salon, Literary Juice, and Long Story Short. I created Pick My YA (now Story Time Teen) in the summer of 2015 as a way to help match my students with their next favorite book. Feel free to follow me on Twitter, especially if you want to hear me talk about my three favorite things: my wife Amy, my students, and Hamilton.

​

If you have any questions about my writing, please reach out to Saba Sulaiman at Talcott Notch Literary Agency. If you need to email me directly, please click here.

ESSENCE BAHAM

​

I'm 15 years old, but I wish I was 16 so it would be easier to find a job. I love makeup, adventures, and theater, but I dislike being bored. I'll read anything that has to do with suspense, horror, or real world issues, but my all-time favorite book is The Cellar by Natasha Preston because the story line is great. My favorite place to eat is a local Mexican restaurant called Mi Ranchito, and I'll fight anyone who says it's nasty. You can follow me on Instagram or contact me here.

SASHA VENGARICK

​

I am excited to be a part of the Story Time Teen team because I believe that it will allow my opportunities to expand. I hope to write a few novels during my time, and this feels like a great place to find inspiration and to learn more about the writing experience. My favorite food is pizza and I'll fight anyone who says pineapple doesn't belong there! Follow me on Instagram at 0hhhsasha if you'd like to see a variety of pictures that are the puzzle pieces of my life. You can contact me here.

JATZIRY GONZALEZ

​

I’m excited to be on the Story Time Teen team because I hope to influence more people to find a love for reading. I'm a total sucker for La La Land and anything Disney related. My favorite TV show of all time is The Office, and I’ll fight anyone who says that it’s too boring to watch. I hope to one day put my own poetry book together to share with the world, and I believe being a part of this team will help me achieve that dream. You can contact me here.

DANIELA MARTINEZ

​

I am excited to be on the Story Time Teen team because reading is one of the activities outside of school that I enjoy the most and I also believe this will be a great place to boost my writing skills. I am a big believer in literature because I think the world needs a little more of the morality that books teach. I am sixteen years old, but I wish I was five instead because crying usually got me whatever I wanted. My greatest fear is bugs, which is why I often go to great lengths just to avoid them. I’ll read anything that has to do with the future, but my all-time favorite book has to be George Orwell’s 1984 because of its grim but truthful prediction of everyday life in the future. You can contact me here.

JULIE ANNE SIMBULAN

​

I am a sixteen year old dreamer, and I believe that a book is an adventure that is waiting to happen. I love that feeling where you learn something entirely on your own by stumbling upon a book. I am so fortunate to be part of this team, because it will allow me to broaden my horizons. I want to be a journalist one day. People have a right to the truth and I intend to bring it to them. It leaves me in astonishment to see how influential words in a stack of pages are. So, if a book is an adventure ready to happen, let me be the first to open one. You can contact me here.

LUPITA TRUJILLO

​

I wish I was a flying unicorn because that would be awesome. Seriously. Who wouldn't want to be one? I’ll read anything that has to do with science fiction, but my all-time favorite book has to be Strung by Bethany Wiggins because it shows how cruel the world can be. My greatest fear is clowns, which is why I refuse to watch any movies that has them. My favorite animal is a penguin, and I’ll fight anyone who says they're stupid. I’m a total sucker for Disney movies and good music. You can contact me here.